The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power is holding a Customer Service Saturday the 2nd Saturday of each month during 2015 at the locations listed below. Staff from the department will be available to take payments, process service order requests, answer billing questions, and resolve billing issues.

Participating Customer Service Center Locations

Crenshaw CSC4030 Crenshaw Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA 90008

Van Nuys CSC6550 Van Nuys Boulevard
Van Nuys, CA 91401

Watts CSC1686 E. 103rd Street
Los Angeles, CA 90002

West Los Angeles CSC1394 S. Sepulveda Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA 90025

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What is A MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING?

A memorandum of understanding (MOU) is a written document that is commonly used in businesses. It clarifies a mutual agreement between two or more parties, and sets the purpose, basic principles and guidelines. It is also signed by both parties. A MOU can be as simple or as detailed as the institutions dictate, clarifying aspects of communication, responsibilities etc. Not as complicated as a contract but it is recognized by the judicial system.

WHAT IS THE DEPARTMENT OF WATER AND POWER (DWP) AGREEMENT WITH THE NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCILS(NC)?

The MOU between the DWP and the Neighborhood Councils is a formal agreement for advance notice and information sharing. This understanding was created after a firestorm of neighborhood oppositions to a DWP rate request that had inadequate notice and little explanation. The MOU created an Oversight Committee that coordinates information sharing under the agreement. Each Neighborhood Council votes to participate in the MOU and names a stakeholder or board member to be their official representative to the Oversight Committee. In 2012, the Oversight Committee and the DWP Board agreed to extend the MOU for another five years. The MOU Oversight Committee meetings are public. They are held on the first Saturday of the month in even-numbered months, just before the Los Angeles Neighborhood Council Coalition (LANCC) meetings. Because the MOU was created by city agencies (the DWP Board and the NCs), the MOU Oversight Committee is a quasi-city agency. It advocates for transparency. It does not take positions on issues like rate requests.

WHAT IS THE DWP COMMITTEE?

The DWP Advocacy Committee was created so that councils can have an
independent organization for political action on rates and other DWP
issues. The DWP Committee also meets on the first Saturday of the
month, in ODD-numbered months. The same people usually attend both
the MOU Oversight meetings and the DWP Advocacy meetings. The role of
the two organizations is different. One is the transparency
committee. The other has been referred to as the "pitchforks and
torches committee."

WHO IS TARZANA’S DWP MOU REPRESENTATIVE?

Utilizing the election process, Tarzana Council Board members have
named Joyce Greene as their MOU Representative, and Max Flehinger as alternate. One responsibility of the NC MOU Representative is to relay information such as rate proposals, workshop scheduling and other pertinent information.This information will help engage stakeholders with the DWP business of managing water and power supply to the community.The MOU
Representative is also responsible for contacting DWP upon request by
the Council and stakeholders to coordinate meetings, speakers and
conference rooms. Participating councils agree to notify DWP 14 days in advance of any DWP-related issue that will appear on a Board or committee agenda.

WHAT IS THE RATE PAYERS ADVOCATE / OFFICE OF PUBLIC ACCOUNTABILITY?

The Office of Public Accountability (OPA) is a City department established by voter approved Charter Amendment I (adopted March 8, 2011) in order to shed greater light on the DWP’s operations and finances and to serve as an independent watchdog, charged with analyzing proposed increases in water and power rates on a timely and continuous basis. A citizen selection committee was formed to interview and select the OPA Executive Director. In February 2012, Frederick Pickel was selected and appointed Executive Director/Rate Payer Advocate (RPA).

Gallons saved per year: 10,000 Cost savings per year: $80.00 Average leak in household is 10,000 gallons per year On average, leaks account for about 5% of the water usage in homes. Depending on the size of the leak, the percentage can be much higher. Use food coloring to check for leaks in toilets. If the coloring begins to appear in the toilet bowl without flushing, you have a wasteful leak that should be repaired at once. When replacing the toilet flapper valve, make sure to select a model designed for your toilet. Replace faucet washers in bathroom and/or kitchen faucets Indication of leakage in irrigation include unexplained rise in your water bill, poor system performance, dry spots, soggy areas, overgrown areas of turf, and erosion.

Indoors……………………………………………………..

Replace all non-water saving showerheads with water-saving showerheads. Turn off the water while brushing your teeth and save up to 3 gallons each time. Turn off the water while you're shaving. Just fill the sink with a little water and rinse your razor. You can save up to 3 gallons. Don't let the faucet run while you clean vegetables. Instead rinse them in a sink full of clean water. Keep a bottle of drinking water in the refrigerator, so you won't have to run the tap to cool it. If you wash dishes by hand, don't leave the water running for rinsing.

Outdoors………………………………………………………

Water your lawn deeply and less frequently. Avoid over watering and runoff. Adjust sprinklers to water the lawn, not the pavement. Water early in the morning or late in the evening. Change watering schedule seasonally. Use a broom instead of the hose. Do not allow the hose to run as you wash your car. Use a self-closing hose nozzle, or turn off the water, between rinses.